The last half of 2000 was hit badly by competition from the Sydney Olympics and the introduction of a 10 per cent consumption tax, resulting in an annual decline of 2. 1 per cent after 12 years of sustained box office growth.

"The second half will be much bigger this year," one distributor predicts, pointing to SHREK (2001) - which has delivered monster numbers since its June 21 (01) premiere - and upcoming films including PLANET OF THE APES (2001), JURASSIC PARK 3 (2001), FAST AND THE FURIOUS, The (2001), and A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001). (HB/WNWCSMH/KMW)